A fluidtight connection for a timepiece winding knob

ABSTRACT

In a watertight timepiece a tubular member passes through the timepiece casing and a winding shaft passes through the tube with a tubular member and is connected to an elastically deformable winding button which is slidably mounted over an end of the tubular member in a fluidtight manner. The fluidtightness is obtained by contact between the elastically deformable winding button and the tubular member without the interposition of a fluidtight packing, the winding button having an annular inner projection in fluidtight contact with the tubular member.

United [72] Inventor Ervin Piquerez 2854 Bassecourt, Switzerland [2]]Appl. No. 771,769 [22] Filed Oct. 30, 1968 [45] Patented July 27. I971[54] FLUIDTIGI-IT CONNECTION FOR A TIMEPIECE WINDING KNOB 5 Claims, 10Drawing Figs.

52] 58/90 [51] ....G04b 37/08 [50] 58/63,73, 88 B, 90 B [56] ReferencesCited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,806,343 9ll957 Piquerez .i 58/90 B FOREIGNPATENTS 945,320 6/1956 Germany 58/90 B 272,324 12/1950 Switzerland 58/90B 299.776 6/1954 Switzerland 58/90 B 348,928 10/1960 Switzerland 58/90 BPrimary Examiner- Richard B. Wilkinson Assistant Examiner-George H.Miller, Jr. Attorneys-Robert E. Burns and Emmanuel J. Lobato ABSTRACT:In a watertight timepiece a tubular member passes through the timepiececasing and a winding shaft passes through the tube with a tubular memberand is connected to an elastically deformable winding button which isslidably mounted over an end of the tubular member in a fluidtightmanner. The fluidtightness is obtained by contact between theelastically deformable winding button and the tubular member without theinterposition of a fluidtight packing, the winding button having anannular inner projection in fluidtight contact with the tubular member.

PATENTEnJurLzmn 3 595 00 SHEET 1 0F 2 FLUID'I'IGI'IT CONNECTION FOR ATIMEPIECE WINDING KNOB The fluidtightness of timepiece winding staffshas been heretofore obtained by the interposition of a fluidtightpacking, either between the wall of the winding button and the tube orbetween the tube and a core of the button. The housing and the fasteningof these packings requires expensive and delicate operations.

It has also been proposed to make the winding member fluidtight bypositioning a toroidal joint called an O-ring between the button and thetube. This construction however has certain drawbacks which cannot beavoided since they arise from the manufacture of the O-ring joint. Thesebeing obtained by moulding, irregularities occur along thecircumferences in contact with the parts of the mould. However. thecontact of the O-ring joint with on the one hand the tube and on theother hand the button'precisely occur along the circumferences. Thepresence of the irregularities thus causes discontinuities in thiscontact which in turn can cause the joint to leak.

It has been proposed to eliminate fluidtight packing by ensuring afluidtight contact directly between a plastic button and the tube, bymachining on this tube a projection. In order that fluidtightness beperfect, it is however necessary that the metallic contact surface beperfectly smooth. However it is extremely difficult and expensive tomachine such a projection in a manner suchthat it will have thisfeature.

Furthermore it has also been suggested to machine a projection ofplastic material on the shaft of the button in such a way that it cancooperate with the inner surface of the tube; the elasticity of thecontact is however difficult to achieve in satisfactory manner andinfiltrations are still possible between the button and the upper partof the tube.

The present invention has for its object a fluidtight connection for atimepiece comprising a winding button of synthetic material driving astaff or rod passing through the wall of the timepiece casing by meansof a tubular member and whose fluidtightness is ensured by the pressurecontact between the button and the tubular part without theinterposition of a fluidtight packing, thereby palliating the drawbacksof the constructions previously mentioned. This control organ ischaracterized by the fact that the button has at least one inner annularprojection in fluidtight contact with the tubular metallic part.

This solution has all the advantages of a construction using an O-ringjoint without having the drawbacks thereof, the actual technique ofmoulding of'synthetic materials making possible the provision of aprojection which is sufficiently free from irregularities. Moreover, thepressure of the contacting points of the two elements which providefluidtightness is ensured at the base of the button which prevents allinfiltration between the button and the upper part of the tube.

The accompanying drawing represents by way of example severalembodiments of the invention.

FIG. 1 shows a winding button with aprojection cooperating with a smoothtube.

FIG. 2 shows a winding button with two projections cooperating with asmooth tube.

FIG. 3 shows a winding button with a projection cooperating with a tubehaving a groove.

FIG. 4 shows a winding button with two projections cooperating with atube having two corresponding grooves.-

FIGS. 5a and b show the keying ofa core in the winding button of plasticmaterial.

FIGS. 6a and b show a second way of anchoring a core in a button.

FIGS. 70 and b show a third way of anchoring a core in a button.

For the purpose of simplifying the description of the differentembodiments of the invention, the basic elements have been referenced bythe same number in all the figures. These elements are an elasticallydeformable winding knob or button I composed of plastic material, inwhich is anchored or embedded a metallic core 2. A winding stem or thepusher of a chronograph (not shown) screws into the metallic core 2 anda metallic tube 3 interconnects the winding knob 1 with the case of thewatch or the chronograph and receives therethrough a winding staffthrough the side of the watch casmg.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. I, the winding button has a hollowed outinterior portion and an annular projection 4 extends radially inwardlyfrom a peripheral portion thereof; obtained, for example, by mouldingwithout irregularities. This annular projection 4 is near the lower edgeof the button and prevents all infiltration between the tubular member 3and the button whereas fluidtight packings heretofore employed arelocated in the center of the button and do not prevent suchinfiltration. The projection 4 cooperates with the surface 5 of thetubular member 3 which is rigorously cylindrical and smooth so as toallow for perfect sliding adjustment therebetween. The surface 5 is freefrom all surface imperfection or traces of drilling which ensurescomplete fluidtightness and makes possible in particular the obtainingof diameter tolerances near the nearest one-hundredth of a millimeterwhich is not the case with tubes having projections which must bepolished after screw cutting. Adjustment can also be made by rolling.Thus during axial sliding movement of the button on the tube,fluidtightness is ensured in all positions. The elastic deformation ofthe elastically deformable button ensures a uniform radial pressurewhich is necessary to ensure good fluidtightness.

FIG. 2 shows a modification of FIG. 1 comprising two projections.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, tube 3 has in its smooth part 5 aperipheral groove 6 whose angles 7 are rounded. The radial projection 4of the winding button can engage in this groove but contacts howeveronly the rounded angles 7 thereof which therefore give to the buttonsprojection a double seat and consequently a double fluidtightengagement. This groove forms an anchor which in certain cases allowsfor the connecting or the disconnecting of the button or otheroperations related to the movement of the timepiece itself, such aschronometer pushers. When the button is pulled, the fluidtightness isensured by pressure contact between 4 and 5 in the same manner as inFIG. 1.

FIG. 4 shows a modification of FIG. 3 in which the button has twoprojections 8 and 9 similar to projection 4 which can introducethemselves simultaneously in two grooves 10 and 11 similar to groove 7made in the smooth surface 5 of the tube.

These two grooves also provide a double seating and a fourfoldfluidtightness of the device.

It is indispensable that the metallic core 2 be keyed in the windingbutton I in such a way as to prevent all movement of the core relativeto the button. FIG. 5 shows at a a cross-sectional view and at b a planview ofa button and its core. Core 2 has a slightly curved head 12 theperiphery of which is shaped so as to have four rectangular nicks 13 inwhich penetrates plastic material during moulding of the button.

In FIG. 6, the metallic core 2 is provided with four radial ears l4partially bent at a right angle in order to form arms 14a which extendparallel to the axis of the metallic core. The arms 14a effectivelyincreases the elastic constant of the mass of the elastically deformablebutton.

FIG. 7 shows a modification of FIG. 6 in which the spaces 15 separatingthe ears 14 are replaced by holes 16 made in the bent part 17 of thecore head.

What I claim is:

I. In a timepiece, a fluidtight connection for a timepiece winding knobcomprising: a fixedly mounted metallic tubular member connectable at oneend to a timepiece casing; an elastically deformable winding knobelastically deformed around and in direct fluidtight, sliding contactwith an outer peripheral portion of the other end of said tubularmember, said elastically deformable winding knob comprising meansdefining a hollowed out interior portion enclosing said other bularmember dimensioned to releasahly receive therein ina fluidtight mannersaid annular projection.

3. A timepiece according to claim 1; wherein said metallic core memberincludes a plurality of arms embedded in said elastically deformablewinding knob effective to increase-the resiliency of said elasticallydeformable winding knob.

4. In a timepiece, a fluidtight connection for a timepiece winding knobcomprising: a fixedly mounted metallic tubular member connectable at oneend to a timepiece casing; an elastically deformable winding knobelastically deformed around and in direct fluidtlght, sliding contactwith an outer peripheral portion of the other end of said tubularmember, said elastically deformable winding knob comprising meansdefining a hollowed out interior portion enclosing said other end ofsaid tubular member, and a plurality of axially spacedapart annularprojections extending radially inwardly from an end peripheral portionof said hollowed out interior portion each in fluidtight, slidingcontact with said tubular member; means defining a plurality of axiallyspaced-apart annular grooves on said other end of said tubular membereach dimensioned to releasably receive therein in a fluidtight mannerone of said annular projections; and a metallic core member embedded insaid elastically deformable winding knob having a projecting portionextending into said other end of said tubular member, and means on saidprojecting portion releasabiy v connectable to a winding staff of saidtimepiece.

1. In a timepiece, a fluidtight connection for a timepiece winding knobcomprising: a fixedly mounted metallic tubular member connectable at oneend to a timepiece casing; an elastically deformable winding knobelastically deformed around and in direct fluidtight, sliding contactwith an outer peripheral portion of the other end of said tubularmember, said elastically deformable winding knob comprising meansdefining a hollowed out interior portion enclosing said other end ofsaid tubular member, and an annular projection extending radiallyinwardly from an end peripheral portion of said hollowed out interiorportion in fluidtight, sliding contact with said tubular member; and ametallic core member embedded in said elastically deformable windingknob having a projecting portion extending into said other end of saidtubular member, and means on said projecting portion releasablyconnectable to a winding staff of said timepiece.
 2. A timepieceaccording to claim 1; further including means defining an annular grooveon said other end of said tubular member dimensioned to releasablyreceive therein in a fluidtight manner said annular projection.
 3. Atimepiece according to claim 1; wherein said metallic core memberincludes a plurality of arms embedded in said elastically deformablewinding knob effective to increase the resiliency of said elasticallydeformable winding knob.
 4. In a timepiece, a fluidtight connection fora timepiece winding knob comprising: a fixedly mounted metallic tubularmember connectable at one end to a timepiece casing; an elasticallydeformable winding knob elastically deformed around and in directfluidtight, sliding contact with an outer peripheral portion of theother end of said tubular member, said elastically deformable windingknob comprising means defining a hollowed out interior portion enclosingsaid other end of said tubular member, and a plurality of axiallyspaced-apart annular projections extending radially inwardly from an endperipheral portion of said hollowed out interior portion each influidtight, sliding contact with said tubular member; means defining aplurality of axially spaced-apart annular grooves on said other end ofsaid tubular member each dimensioned to releasably receive therein in afluidtight manner one of said annular projections; and a metallic coremember embedded in said elastically deformable winding knob having aprojecting portion extending into said other end of said tubular member,and means on said projecting portion releasably connectable to a windingstaff of said timepiece.
 5. A timepiece according to claim 4; whereinsaid metallic core member includes a plurality of arms embedded in saidelastically deformable winding knob effective to increase the resiliencyof said elastically deformable winding knob.